Hiraeth

Chapter Twelve

I’ve dreamed of sailing the entire sea alone. I’m in my happiest moment there because I can finally feel that I'm in control. No one will say, “You need to do this or that.” or “It's all your fault you're in that situation.” I can do whatever I want and go anywhere that brings me peace and joy. It’s an adventure for a lifetime.

The dream relates well to my situation. The sea is this entirely new world, and I'm here living my life alone. But the only difference is that I am not happy at all. Wanting to be alone has brought me in danger instead, and no one will be here to save me. It's either I'll fight for myself or just give up.

But I choose to fight. I can't just let these ugly, stinky pirates in front of me take my life. Over my not-dead gorgeous body! It’s either I survive here or die fighting. Whatever it is, my life is worth a fight.

“Morning, lad!” The Ax enthusiastically greets, waving his hands that's now an ax.

I ignore him and observe my body instead. I'm still in my dress, but the piece of cloth that hides my face is nowhere. Maybe it fell when they’ve dragged me here. Still, I'm thankful for the knowledge that they haven't touched me yet. I can’t feel anything unusual in my body aside from dizziness, starvation, and dehydration.

But this makes me think about what they're planning to do with me. If not to kill me, then what will it be? Just like this? Make me their captive as long as they want? Tie me here? Starve me to death? Sell me to merchants? Argh! What are they planning to do? Without my knowledge about it, it adds more to my anxiety. I should have focused on my escape plan, but that’s what I’m thinking instead.

“Give me water,” I say with simple directness—my voice sounds hoarse. I can be polite on some days, and if it isn’t because I haven't drunk water in two days and my patience is wearing thin, I could have added “please” on it. But I’m in no mood to be polite when I’m still in danger and when I know that these people I've asked for water are responsible for it.

“Consider it done, lad,” he says in a friendly fashion, different from the first time I've seen him. His looks that are so intense will help me know he's up to no good and he'll harm me. But this? What’s with his friendliness today? I'm not rich if that's what he thinks. I don't have money. I have no family here that will give them ransom if they ask some. Well, except for my father and friend. But there's no way in hell they'll know that someone has kidn*pped me, and The Ax will also have a hard time contacting them. I’m the one who searches for them, not the other way around.

I watch the back of the Ax when he turns to walk away. The last thing I've heard is the creaking sound of the door that’s opened, then closed, and his footsteps are slowly fading as he walks. I think he doesn't lock it, or I’ll hear the click of the lock, but I haven’t heard anything. But why won't he lock it when he knows there's no way in hell I'll escape? For Pete's sake! They've tied my hands and feet! It's like they aren't content with having mercy on my feet.

I rest my hands on my knees as I look around. My curly hair blocks my face, meaning visibility is terrible. Using my tied hands, I tuck it behind my ear. Now that I can see clearly, I notice that I'm in a wooden room. There's nothing here except for me. So, this is an empty room until they've put me in here. I guess this is what their makeshift prison is. No chair to sit in or lights to light me through the night. The space is claustrophobic, and it feels like I'm trapped.

I wipe my sweaty hands on my dress. The muscles at the back of my neck tighten. I sit as if I can't move a bit. Although I'm sure that I look terrible physically and mentally, I only realized it when The Ax left. His presence seems to stop me from feeling terrible because he's so horrible that my mind can only bear to process him.

I have no idea how long I will survive in days without water and food, let alone proper rest. My life when I've stepped into this new world is much f*cked up than my world. Every day, death, not that f*cking Death, follows me wherever I go. It's always frustrating to watch my back because someone might kill me from behind. What I'm experiencing right now is not what I want. My fantasy of living life to the fullest is now rushing back to me and mocking me that I'm stupid for believing I will live life like that. But f*ck it! No one's going to remember me anyway, so maybe I'll just die peacefully as long as I die fighting? But before this, I must find my father and friend.

My shoulder stiffens at the sound of the door opening, but I relax when I see The Ax with another two men behind him, carrying a wooden board that has roasted sweet potatoes and water on it. He places it meters away from me then pushes it closer to me.

I glare at him for doing it. He could have just f*cking placed it correctly! What is the f*ck wrong with him?

Inhale. Exhale. It's what I do to calm myself and focus more on the good side. At least The Ax gives me food.

“How am I supposed to eat this?” I ask, raising my brow.

“Like a dog,” the man next to The Ax mocks until all of them are laughing.

I roll my eyes. “I guess your mother doesn't love you all. That's why you're a jerk.”

“My mother loves me!” the one on the left yells.

I jerk, surprised by his answer. He seems like a child with that response when in fact, he's a bully, grown-up man. Maybe his age remains, and then his body continues to grow? Hell! What stupidity am I thinking again?

“And me!” the complete opposite of the man who first answers, says. What I mean is if the first guy is like a hulk, then the second one is like a stick. His bones are more visible than fat. I'm petite, yes, but hell, he's thinner than me. He seems like one blow away, and then he’ll fly. I'm only kidding aside.

Only The Ax doesn't budge from what I've said. He remains motionless, though, as if I just hit a sensitive part of him. For a moment, I feel sorry for him if I do hit something. But then I remember I wouldn't have said those words if only he or just instructed his men to untie me. Then good for him! Let him repent. But it still feels awful.

“Untie her!” he commands, and the men with him rush at me, their fingers fumbling in the tight knots. One on my feet and the other one is on my hands while The Ax now has his exit.

There's a noticeable mark on both my hands and feet that indicates the knots are indeed tight.

“Psh! Look at what you all did!” I close my hands to their faces. “Ungentle—Mmph!”

“Just eat!” he says, still pushing the roasted sweet potatoes on my mouth. He only stops when I slap his hand.

“F*-f*ck you!” I curse, barely unintelligible. If my glare can kill, he'll now be on the floor, gasping for air.

But even if I’m annoyed by how they treat me, the food somehow lifts my mood. For a moment, I almost forget I'm held captive for having this meal that's a luxury in this place. It might not be the food I want, but it's still a luxury, and I must at least thank them but decide against it. With this food, I'll get back my energy. My body will function well, and if there is another run, I'll be good.

I drink the water in one shot after I eat all the potatoes. There’s still the dryness in my throat.

I stretch my hand that holds the glass. “More water, please.”

“Haha!” the one who has forced me to eat the potatoes mocks me—eyes are wide while his head is going left and right. “There's no more water for ye!”

The silent one s****s his head, so he has no choice but to stop his immaturity. As if I get annoyed by it. I can annoy the hell out of him more. I don’t have the energy to deal with his kid tactics. I will spend my time making an escape plan.

“What do you want with me?” I ask instead. They don’t give me more water, but I don’t insist. I put the glass down, frowning.

“The Ax will sell ye!”

“What?” I look at him in disbelief. “Sell me? Are you kidding?” I let out a shaky laugh. “I know that I'm pretty and sexy and smart, but no one will buy me! I'm hundred percent sure of that!” Because they won't need another trouble in their life.

I eat the last sweet potato. The two men fix their eyes on me as if I’ll vanish when they look somewhere else. I drag my leg to my chest and rest my hand on it. Still holding my sweet potato, I sign them to get closer. Fortunately, they follow, but I can still see their hesitation.

I grunt and roll my eyes. “Oh, come on! Why are you guys so scared when in fact, I'm only a woman?”

“We’re not scared!” the stick man shouts. I don’t know his name, so I’ll call him that way.

“Then sit down.” I flash a sweet smile. “Let’s talk for a bit.”

The two are hesitant at first, but they do sit down. Now, we’re facing each other. I still wear a fake smile that I've mustered for too long that it looks natural.

“If I were you, you'd let me go since I'm just wasting your time.” I sigh as if it saddens me. “It's such a shame to not be useful for you guys when you all come a long way to catch me.”

“Don't joke around!”

“Don't shout!” I slap the stick man’s head.

He glares at me. “The Ax is now looking for your buyer, and everyone seems to be interested in you.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” I get up, which startles the two. My pretend act ends by hearing the bad news. No! It can't be real. They're only teasing me. “They'll waste their time and money! You all must stop this insanity!”

Before they can get up as well, I sprint towards the door. I can now feel my success when I’m so close to the door, my way to escape this hell, not until I feel someone pulls my dress. I fall with a loud thud. My face hits the floor first. I feel like someone has punched me in the face. Grunting, I reach for my nose. I touch it, and it only hurts when I sense the sticky liquid coming from it.

My nose!

“Tie her!”

I don’t know who shouts. All I know is that the seconds of shock has ended. They are now coming at me, determined not to let me escape for the second time.

But I’m also determined to escape. I’m not backing down.

I trash while pushing myself with my feet. It’s only a matter of time until the two tackle me to the ground. I fall again. This time, my butt hit the ground first. I whimper in pain.

The hulk gets a hold of my hand while the stick man is on my feet. A split second which the stick man’s grip wavers for a bit, is all I need. I kick him, and it directly connects to his face. He grunts, clutching his nose.

I smile even if I'm also feeling pain. At least we're fair.

The hulk turns his head behind him to look for his mate’s situation. I see it as an opportunity to have revenge. I lift my head off the floor. Without thinking twice, I sink my teeth on his bare arm.

He cries, moving his arm that I bite away from me in a forceful way. The awful taste of his blood makes me stop. I spit the blood as soon as my teeth left his arm. I look at the blood in disgust.

What the hell am I thinking? But the thought of hurting them sends me a feeling of both disgust and grim satisfaction. I guess when things get tough, we can do things we’ve never imagined. Whatever we do will always depend on our instincts. Still, I can't believe I've done it. I've always been a fighter, but only for words. It's not like this wherein I must use my strength.

I brace myself for revenge, but it doesn’t happen. The two continue to tie me. With my strength rapidly decreasing, The Ax's men successfully finish their work. They both fall on the floor, panting. It seems like I'm not the only one exhausted because of it.

“b***h!” stick man shouts.

“Shut up!” I shout back, annoyed that I am bound again.

“Ye should be thankful that a rich buyer will buy ye,” he continues. “ If yer useless as what you've said, The Ax will kill ye.”

I scowl. “For a man like you, you talk like a woman.”

“For a woman like ye, ye fight like a man!”

I roll my eyes even if I know they can’t see me. My nose hurts, and blood still oozes out. I reach for the first layer of my skirt and use it to wipe my nose. I repeat it until the small part of my dress is full of a bloodstain. Fortunately, it stops at last. But I still feel like I've got a dislocated nose. Every time I breathe, it sends a terrible pain.

Gosh! Can I take a rest just for once? Do I look like an actor in an action movie?

I take a deep breath, and my eyes fix at the ceiling. It has some c***k on it, and some spiders have taken their position to make their webs.

I don’t know how long I stare at it until the stick man shouts.

“The Ax!”

The two abruptly get up as they have just seen a ghost or something. Still on the floor, I crane my head only to see The Ax is approaching us.

I grimace. My ears are alert of what The Ax might bring.

“I thought this woman killed both of ye,” The Ax jokes, though I can tell that he means it.

Do I look like a murderer? I want to ask him that, but I choose not to. The fight is honestly tiring, and talking seems to take a lot of my remaining energy.

“Get up, woman!” The Ax yells. I didn't get up. Instead, I raise both my hands, indicating that I need help to stand up. Without words, the two men pull me up.

With my usual frown face, I face the devil. But my eyes widen at the sight of a person I don’t imagine coming here.

What the f*ck is he doing here? He's supposed to be sailing! Why is he still here? Does this mean they haven't left yet?

With all my confusion about his presence here, I still smile. “Omg!” I jump like a kangaroo so that I can get closer to him. “Storm! You're here!”

Though the latter is entirely devoid of expression, I'm still happy to see him that he's here. He saves me once, so he’ll likely keep me twice. I mean, Death saved me since Death’s the one who’s brought me with him, and Storm couldn’t disagree, but without Storm at that time to save Death, I wouldn’t have escaped.

“Ahoy, Matey!”

And what the f*ck!

Is Death also here?